UNIFIED RECALL EFFORT MOVES FORWARD

Ninth woman levels accusations at mayor

The dueling efforts to recall embattled Mayor Bob Filner joined forces Friday to bolster the coming push to gather the more than 100,000 signatures needed to trigger an election.

LGBT Weekly Publisher Stampp Corbin and land-use consultant Michael Pallamary had each taken initial steps to begin a recall campaign but said they would now work together on a single recall petition.

“We have one unifying goal here and that is to exercise the will of the people, that is our common goal and objective,” Pallamary said. “We’re also standing here to represent the eight women and maybe many more who have been harassed.”

Filner has been under siege amid allegations he sexually harassed numerous women, including a former mayoral aide who has sued Filner and the city. Nine women have come forward publicly in recent weeks to share stories of Filner’s alleged inappropriate sexual behavior and unwanted advances, such as kisses, groping and derogatory comments.

The latest Filner accuser is Emily Gilbert, who told Fox 5 San Diego the mayor slid his hand down her arm and grabbed her buttocks at a December fundraiser. She was hired to perform as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator at the event.

“He grabbed me a little too tight, then proceeded to slide his hand down my arm and then did a little grab on my derriere,” Gilbert said. “I didn’t want to make a scene. There were kids around.”

Meanwhile, Filner’s former chief of staff Vince Hall backed up some claims by Irene McCormack Jackson, the mayor’s former communications director who sued Filner and the city for sexual harassment.

“I believe her,” Hall said in an interview with the Voice of San Diego.

Hall described a bullying and frequently angry Filner, who he said was prone to “vicious outbursts” and created a hostile and demeaning work environment.

He told the Voice that he was at the staff meeting during which both McCormack Jackson and then-deputy chief of staff Allen Jones resigned — both saying they were doing so because of Filner’s behavior. In her lawsuit, McCormack Jackson said Filner asked her to give one example of when she had been mistreated. She reminded him that he once said she would work better without her panties on.

Hall confirmed that exchange in the interview.

He also disputed Filner’s lawyer’s contention that the city failed to provide the mayor with required sexual harassment training. Hall said the city’s acting human resources director told the mayor he needed to take the online training.

Amid these developments, the ranks of those calling on Filner to resign continued to swell Friday with the San Diego Port Tenants Association, a coalition of tideland businesses, weighing in.

“Considering his acts of degrading and inappropriate behavior towards women, Bob Filner cannot execute the duties of his office and should immediately resign as mayor of San Diego,” said Bill Hall, the association’s chairman.

The organization cited the “uncertain business climate” caused by the Filner scandal, which has been the subject of ridicule from national media outlets and late-night comedians.